York City midfielder Lee Bullock is the latest player to be linked with a summer move to Portman Road. Bullock spent the latter stages of 2003/04 on loan at Cardiff - scoring for them against Town - but the Bluebirds are stalling on offering him a permanent deal.

York, newly relegated to the Conference, were expecting the deal to go through quickly after the end of the season but Cardiff are taking their time in offering the 22-year-old a contract.

When Bullock joined the Bluebirds mid-March, the clubs agreed that a £75,000 fee would be paid should a permanent deal be agreed, with a further £75,000 due later based on appearances.

Town, Leeds, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Stockport are all reported by the Yorkshire press to be watching the situation closely.

Bullock has another year left on his York contract and the likelihood of a fee, however small, could be enough to put the Blues off, particularly while the three top earners - Pablo Couñago, Marcus Bent and Martijn Reuser - remain on the payroll.

Bullock made 10 appearances in his loan spell at Cardiff, scoring three goals, including their equaliser at Portman Road on the final day of the regular season.

The midfielder has made 189 appearances for York since making his debut in December 1998, and has scored 27 goals.

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